VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!
Where A.I. is a four-letter word.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Tinkering with Audioblocks

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
HeatherMasters
Contributore Level V


Joined: 03 Sep 2015
Posts: 158
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 10:40 pm    Post subject: Tinkering with Audioblocks Reply with quote

I am nearing the end of training with Nancy Wolfson (whom I adore) and will soon have my long awaited commercial demo. In the meantime, I have been experimenting with adding some music beds to narration work I've done with the thought that maybe, along with learning new skills, I might be able to cobble some of my work together to create a workable narration demo (as my last narration demo was awful).

I have absolutely no training in mixing music, so I'd love thoughts on this piece as well as perhaps some tips on how to mix properly.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4jpi5p0dokauov/Whole%20Foods.mp3?dl=0

Thank you!!
_________________
Heather

www.heathermastersvo.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi


Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11046
Location: Portgordon, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

People will buy you from what I've just heard. Stop over thinking.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lance Blair
M&M


Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 2279
Location: Atlanta

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is some very fine self-produced demo work there. Well done! You even hit the points in the music for timing.

Tips for mixing:

Sometimes in real commercials the voice doesn't stand out as much as the music or SFX - but in a demo it needs to do so a bit more. The moment you think the music might be too loud, it is to loud. That said, it's good to have a variety of levels so that it doesn't all sound the same.

EQing the music can help. Bring down the music EQ between say 2 and 4 kHz about -3db to give space for your voice to stand out in those frequencies. Also, taking a little off the bass around 300 Hz can help to keep the mix less muddy too.

After you EQ, run a gentle compressor over everything in the mix. A multiband compressor would be ideal. Make sure it's not reducing anything by more than -3dB. 8 to 10 ms attack, 80 to 100 ms release, and around 2:1 ratio to taste in each band should do the trick.

Then try a little bit of a limiter to bring up the whole volume. Set peaks to either -1 or -3 dBFS. When it sounds too aggressive in its gain settings dial it back.

But as Mr. Banks said, you've got the voice. Be you. Go with your gut. Good luck.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Bruce
Boardmeister


Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7919
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That was a lovely soft, intimate read. Looking forward to hearing what all you do with Ms. Wolfson.




B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
todd ellis
A Zillion


Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 10477
Location: little egypt

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i like it!
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Eddie Eagle
M&M


Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 2393

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That sounds good to go!
Very natural sound
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DenaliDave
Club 300


Joined: 09 Jan 2016
Posts: 307
Location: Anchorage, Alaska

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lance hit some good points, music and SFX can often times wash out or make human voices harder to hear.

Even though we aren't singers, some cue's and tips from how sound engineers get vocal tracks to "sit in the mix" can be applied to human speech.
_________________
"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
HeatherMasters
Contributore Level V


Joined: 03 Sep 2015
Posts: 158
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow. That just made my day. Thanks all! You hear so often about the importance of a professionally produced demo, that it gives the impression that such things are out of the realm of possibility for mere mortals. Not that I think this one track proves I can whip out the rest, but it gives me hope that perhaps, with a little dedication and practice, I may at some point be able to create a narration demo that serves my needs. And that is hugely encouraging.

Lance, you've given me enough meat in that post to really sink my teeth into, and I look forward to putting all that info to use. I've also stumbled on your blog post in the gear section and am just about giddy. I have spent so much time looking up info to try to improve my tech skills. Most of the time, I can't even understand the tutorials. Your "DO THIS" approach is so unbelievably helpful and refreshing for people who are not audio engineer oriented.

Thank you
_________________
Heather

www.heathermastersvo.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lance Blair
M&M


Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 2279
Location: Atlanta

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're welcome. I've just compiled the best tips from engineers when they say "this is what I do". Then you're free to play with alternatives, but you have a base of something that works.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Bish
3.5 kHz


Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good choice of music that brought the whole thing together... the points made above about EQ are well made... depending on what DAW you are using, you may want to look at some auto-ducking with a side-chain compressor... but, to be honest, on short pieces like this, manual ducking is usually much better.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
ricevoice
Cinquecento


Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 532
Location: Sacramento, CA

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

HeatherMasters wrote:
You hear so often about the importance of a professionally produced demo, that it gives the impression that such things are out of the realm of possibility for mere mortals.


For commercial, promo, imaging, broadcast narration... yes, a pro demo is the way to go. But for non-broadcast corporatey narration, as long as you have a modicum of production ability a self-produced demo should be fine. And this example sounds great.
_________________
Chris Rice - Noisemaker
www.ricevoice.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group